By Christopher Manson
Scott Rude calls himself “the founding member” of 100 Men Who Care Emerald Coast. Rude (pronounced Rudy) is “semi-retired” and spent three years teaching business management at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.
After leaving the university, he worked for Shell Oil in New Orleans. He and his family visited our beaches on the weekends and decided this is where they wanted to live. Jean, Rude’s wife of 24 years, was very happy with the choice they made.
In Iowa, Rude was a member of the Hawkeye chapter of 100 Men Who Care. Upon relocating, he looked for a local chapter, but there wasn’t one around. “The only thing to do was start one,” he says. In 2021, 100 Men Who Care Emerald Coast launched with considerable help from Fort Walton Beach’s 100+ Women Who Care honcho Kelly Bomar-Fuller.
Rude recently attended a check presentation for Healing Hoof Steps. “I hadn’t heard of them,” he says. “I had no idea how many organizations there were in Okaloosa and Walton counties that are trying to help people in our community.” The Crestview-based nonprofit offers horse therapy to veterans with PTSD, as well as young children who have autism.
The 100 Men Who Care have given to Crossroads Medical Center, too. The Valparaiso free clinic serves homeless people and folks trying to make ends meet. “They do an unbelievable service,” says Rude. “We gave them a little over $3,000 and they showed us how they could turn it into $9,000.”
Other nonprofits that have benefited from the 100 Men Who Care include Children in Crisis and A Bed for Me, which provides beds for children – and, in turn, helps them feel “more empowered and have more self-esteem.”
“We’ve learned so much and been able to get involved in so much in less than a year and a half. It’s eye-opening.”
The process is simple. Members throw in $100 every quarter and attend quarterly meetings where various charities are pitched, followed by a vote on who will receive that quarter’s funds.
Rude and his fellow Men Who Care number 45, a bit short of 100 but well on the right track. Joining up is a breeze. Email 100mwcec@gmail.com or call/text Rude at (319) 325-1025. You can also find 100 Men Who Care Emerald Coast on Facebook and at Grapevine.org.
“If we find a way to get the word out, it’s going to be an organization that makes a strong impact on this community at a really meaningful level,” he says. “The beauty of it is, everyone is the same. Whether you’re a CEO or a maintenance worker, everyone is equal. You don’t have to spend a lot of time, but you can make a difference.”
The next meeting is set for May 8 at Niceville’s 3rd Planet Brewing, starting at 5:30 p.m. “We welcome all to come out, meet new friends and see what we’re all about,” says Rude. “We’re out of there within 90 minutes. Time enough for a couple beers!”
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